Combined liquid dropper and discharging device



P. B. BROWN Aprii 14, 1936.

COMBINED LIQUID DROPPER AND DISCHARGING DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WM 6 w/zown April 14, 1936. P. B. BROWN COMBINED LIQUID DROPPER AND DISCHARGING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1934 Wham lili Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES COMBINED LIQUID DROPPER AND DISCHARGING DEVICE Paul B. Brown, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The De Vilbiss Company, tion of Ohio Toledo, Ohio, a corpora- Application January 29, 1934, Serial No. 708,820

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing or discharging liquids in diffused or undiflused form, and has reference primarily to such apparatus adapted for the handling of perfumes and toilet waters.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of simplefand eificient means in combination with a. liquid dispensing or an atomizing device, whereby if desired, it can also be employed as a liquid dropper.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, and from the accompanying drawings, which illustrate three embodiments of the invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary central vertical section of an atomizing device embodying the invention with parts in full. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged sections taken, respectively, on the lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary central vertical section of a liquid dispensing device embodying the invention with parts in full. Fig. '7 is an enlarged section on the line 1---! in Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 is a central vertical section of a modification of the invention with parts in full.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, l designates a receptacle, which, in this instance, is provided with a neck 2, having a ferrule 3, securely mounted thereon. A washer 4 is disposed between the neck and the ferrule to provide an air tight joint between the two.

A discharge head 5 is mounted on the ferrule and is provided with a central bore 6, the diameter of which is increased for a short distance at a point adjacent the base of the head. The bore 6 merges into an annular recess or slot 1 adjacent to the top of the head for a purpose which will later become apparent. An air pressure supply tube 8 is threaded into the discharge head at one side thereof and is adapted to be connectedwith a source of air pressure supply, not shown, such as a hand pressure bulb of the type commonly used on atomizers. An atomizing nozzle 9 is carried by the discharge head and has a central discharge opening l communicating with an interior mixing chamber II. A liquid passage I2 is provided, and extends laterally through the discharge head from the bore 6 to the interior of the mixing chamber I I. An air dispensing nozzle I 3 is carried by the discharge head interiorly of the nozzle 9 and has a discharge passage I4 in axial register with the discharge opening l0 and in communication at its inner end with the boreG.

A bushing I is fixedly seated in the bore 6 with its lower end threaded into the ferrule 3, as at Hi. The bushing I5 is provided with a ta- 1' 5 pered shoulder portion H, which extends into the enlarged portion of the bore 6 and seats against a similarly tapered portion of the ferrule 3 so as to provide a tight joint between the two elements. The bushing I5 is provided vertically through its 1'0 central axis with a bore l 8, which is downwardly tapered for a distance from the top thereof to form a tapered valve seat. The head 5 and bushing l3 cooperate'to form an annular passage l9 around the head axis, and this passage is in constant registry with the air pressure supply tube 8 and with the bore of the air discharge nozzle I 4. A further air passage is provided and comprises a vertical bore extending from the bottom of the bushing l5 at apoint where it communicates with the interior of the receptacle I, to a point approximately central of the tapered portion of the bore l8 with which it communicates. The bushing 15 is a fixed part of the head and is only made in a separate piece to facilitate forming the passage I9. v

A lateral liquid passage 2| is formed in the bushing l5 and communicates with the bore I8 and with the liquid passage l2 of the discharge head, being in constant registry with the latter.

A dropper member 22 is removably seated in the bushing l 5 and includes a handle portion 23 having a socket 24 in its lower end. A hollow tip member 25 is threaded into the socket portion of the handle and has a pin 26 extending diametrically therethrough so as to centrally traverse the hollow part and to project slightly from one point on the periphery, as at 21. The projection 21 is adapted to engage in the annular slot 1 and coact therewith in a bayonet-slot connection to hold the dropper member 22 removably in the head, except when the pin 21 is in register with a releasing slot 28, as shown in Fig. 2. Stop mem bers 29 and 30 are provided to limit the move-- ment of the pin for a purpose hereinafter described.

The dropper member also includes a plug type of valve member 3|, which is seated in the tapered bore l 8 of the bushing l5 and has a slotted upper extension 32 received in the hollow tip member 25 and itself receiving the pin 26 between the walls of the slot. A second pin 33 extends across the slot above the pin 26 so as to allow a slight reciprocating movement of the valve member 3| relative to the handle 23. The valve member 3| is constantly urged outwardly from the handle by a spring 34, which presses against the upper extension of the valve member and against the inner end wall of the socket 24. It will thus be seen that when the dropper member 22 is placed in the receptacle the pin projection 2'I enters the annular recess I of the discharge head through the slot 28, and when the handle is turned slightly so that the pin projection 21 engages the top face of the recess I the spring 34 acts to seat the valve member 3| against the tapered bore of the plug I 8, as well as to press the pin against the top of the slot.

A central liquid passage comprisesa tube 35 seated in and carried by the body of the valve member 3| and extending to a point adjacent the bottom of the receptacle I, a vertical bore 36 having a lateral passage 31 communicating with the bore 36 and the exterior of the valve member. In one position the passage 31 is adapted to register with the liquid passage I2 in the bushing I5 as shown in Fig. 5.

The valve 3| is further provided with an air passage 38 which extends from a point above the plug I5 where it communicates with the atmosphere through the annular recess I and around the handle 23. The passage extends inwardly from this point and thence downwardly to a lateral recess in the valve at a point such that it is adapted to register with the air vent passage '20 in the bushing I5 when the liquid passages 31 and 2I are in alignment.

It will be seen that when the valve is in its open or operative position, with the pin projection 21 against the stop 29, the operation of the device is as follows: Air from the atmosphere passes through the passages 38 and 20 to the interior of the receptacle. Air from the supply tube 8 passes through the annular air passage II? in the plug and rushes through the air nozzle opening I4 and out through the discharge nozzle I0. The rapid passage of this air causes a reduction in the pressure in a mixing chamber II so that liquid is drawn into the latter through the tube 35 and liquid passages 36, 31, 2I and I2. The liquid, having been drawn into the chamber II, is caught up by the rushing air and dispensed in the form of a fine spray.

'When it is desired to use the device as a dropper, the handle 23 is given a quarter turn to release the connection of the pin 21 with the annular recess I. The entire valve body and tube 35 may then be withdrawn from the receptacle, and the perfume remaining on the tube then wiped or dropped onto the surface desired.

When the device is not in use, the handle 23 may be given a slight turn away from the stopper member 29 so that the air and liquid passages of the valve are out of register with those in the bushing I5. In this manner evaporation of the perfume in the receptacle is prevented.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and '7, the neck 2 of the receptacle is closed by a cork or similar stopper 60 having a metallic cover plate 6]. A discharge head 62 is provided with a central bore 63 which is tapered for a portion of its length to provide a valve seat. Air passage 64 in the discharge head communicates with a source of air pressure supply such as a bulb 65. A conduit 66 is disposed between the bulb and the discharge head and has a vent 61 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A liquid discharge tube 68 is threaded into the opposite side of the head 62 which communicates with the bore '63 through a passage 69. A nozzle I0 is carried by the tube at its outer end. The discharge head is'recessed at its lower end to form a sharp shoulder H. A tubular coupling member 12 is forced or otherwise fixed into the bore 63 of the discharge head and is provided with a narrowed portion adapted to pass through the cover plate 6| and the stopper 60. .The narrowed portion is threaded for a distance adjacent its lower extremity and is adapted to have a nut I3 threaded thereon. A washer I4 is carried about the coupling member beneath the nut. It will thus be seen that by screwing up the nut "I3 the discharge head 62 is drawn tightly against the cover plate 6| with its sharp shoulder II forming a tight joint therewith.

The dropper assembly in this instance includes a handle I5. The same type of bayonet-slot connection, consisting of the pin 18 and slot 19, is provided for the dropper assembly and the discharge head 62. The valve in this instance, however, consists of a tapered body 16, having a central liquid passage 80 and a lateral liquid passage BI in communication therewith, and adapted to register with the discharge passage 69. A dropper tube 11 is threaded into the valve body and extends through the tubular member I2 into the receptacle to a'point adjacent the bottom thereof. The valve body is provided with a shallow longitudinal recess 02 along its periphery which is adapted to register with the air passage 64 and which extends downwardly to communicate with the bore 63 so that air from the passage 64 has access to the interior of the receptacle I.

When it is desired to dispense liquid through the nozzle I0, the dropper assembly is turned so that the valve is in operative position as shown in Fig. '7. The user then closes the vent 6'! with a finger and compresses the bulb in the usual manner. Air passing into the receptacle through the passage 82 and the hollow coupling I2 forces the liquid contained therein out through the tube TI, passages 8| and 69 and through the nozzle I0. When the desired quantity of liquid has been dispensed, the finger is removed from the vent and the flow stops, as is well understood in the art. In the event that the user desires to extract perfume from the receptacle by the dropper tube, the operation is identical with the device as shown in Fig. 1; the handle merely being given a quarter turn to release its connec-' tion with the head and permit the entire assembly to be removed.

In some instances it is found inconvenient to remove the tube extending. into the bottle when it is desired to use the device as a dropper. This is particularly true when the tube is made long so as to be used with a bottle of large capacity. For this reason the valve may be made separate from the tube as shown in Fig. 8. In this modification, a valve I00 is removably carried in a discharge head IOI by means of a bayonet-slot connection comprising a pin I02 and a slot I03 in the discharge head. The valve and discharge head may obviously be either of the types previously described.

A handle I04 is provided, and when turned will release thevalve body in the same manner as in the other forms shown.

In this instance, however, only the valve body is removable, the tube being fixed in the discharge head as at I05. It has been found that sufficient liquid remains in the passages of the valve and on the valve body to allow it to be satisfactorily used as a dropper. Since the tube is fixed in the discharge head, a slight change is made in the air passage of the discharge head. A passage I06 is provided which extends around the seat for the tube so that air may reach the interior of the receptacle. The valve I has an elongated port l0! which registers simultaneously with the passages extending to the receptacle and to the source of air pressure supply.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a liquid dispensing device, a liquid receptacle, means mounted on the receptacle for pneumatically discharging liquid therefrom, said means having a vent opening and air and liquid passages, and including a valve member for said vent opening and said liquid passage having a part extending into the liquid contained in the receptacle and being removable from the rest of the means and the receptacle to serve as a liquid dropper.

2. In a liquid dispensing device, a liquid receptacle, means mounted on the receptacle for pneumatically discharging liquid therefrom, said means having an annular air passage and a liquid passage, and including a valve member adapted to close said liquid passage and having a part extending into the liquid in said receptacle, said valve member being removable from the rest of the means and receptacle to serve as a liquid dropper.

3. In a liquid dispensing device, a liquid receptacle, means mounted on the receptacle for pneu matically discharging liquid therefrom, said means including air and liquid passages and a tapered valve seat, removable means having a part in said seat adapted to close said liquid passage and having a part extending into the liquid in said receptacle and being removable to serve as a liquid dropper member, and resilient means urging said part into said tapered seat.

4. In a liquid dispensing device, a liquid receptacle, means mounted on the receptacle for pneumatically discharging liquid therefrom, said member seated in said means adapted to close one of said air and liquid passages and including a tube extending into said receptacle for conveying liquid therefrom, and a controlling handle for said valve member having a reciprocable connection with said valve member and a removable connection with said means whereby the valve member and tube may be withdrawn from said means and receptacle to serve as a liquid dropper member.

5. In a liquid dispensing device, a liquid receptacle, means mounted on the receptacle for pneumatically discharging liquid therefrom,- said means having air and liquid passages and including a valve member seated in a part of said means adapted to close at least one of said air and liquid passages, a tube carried by said'means extending into the receptacle for conveying liquid therefrom, and a controlling handle for said valve member having a reciprocableconnection with said valve member and a removable connection with said means whereby the valve member may be withdrawn from said means to serve as a liquid dropper member.

6. In a liquid dispensing device, a liquid recep tacle, means mounted on the receptacle for pneumatically discharging liquid therefrom, said means having a valve member for controlling the liquid discharge and a part extending down into the receptacle from the valve member, said member and part removable as a unit from the rest of the discharge means and the receptacle to serve as a dropper member.

7. In a liquid dispensing device, a liquid receptacle, means mounted on the receptacle and operable to pneumatically discharge liquid therefrom, said means including air and liquid passages and having a valve member with a part extending into liquid contained in the receptacle and removable from the rest of the discharge means and the receptacle to serve as a liquid dropper member, said valve member controlling the liquid passage, and said part including a portion of the liquid passage.

PAUL B. BROWN. 

